
Author . 



Title 



Imprint. 



10 — 47372-2 OPO 



0^y. 




"Life and C.':c:. .•;;• of Admbal CkilMngwood." 



LECTURE 



DKLIVEREn BT 



NINIAN PINKNEY, 1. D., 



SURGEON U. S. navy; 



IN TflE \AVAL CnAPEL, AT AN\AP0LISJ1(1„ BEFORE THE "LAWREXCE LITERARY SOCETIV 



(^M 



OCTOBER 30, 1S.5S. 



ANNAPOLIS: 

THOMAS J. WILSON 



1858. 



6-^ 



LECTURE 



nr.T/IVETtTCTI BT 



OTMAN PmOEY, M. D. 



SURGEON U. S. navy; 



IN THE NAVAL CHAPEl, AT ANNAPOLIS, MD., BEFORE THE "LAWRENCE LITERARY SOCIETY.' 



OCTOBER 30, 1858. 



ANNAPOLIS: 

THOMAS J. WILSON 
1858. 



^ ho 



#. 



# 






CORRESPONDENCE. 



V, 

/^ U. S. Naval Academy, 

(>^ November 25th, 1858. 

■^^ Dear Sir: — Tlie uudorsigned hare been appointed by the "LawreBce Lit.rarv 

^ Society," to tender j-ou the thanks of its members, individually and collectively, for 

^J the interesting and able address which you delivered before them in the Ohapel of thi.< 

Academy on the 30th of last month. The Society has unanimously instructed us to 
request a copy of your address for print; and we hope that you will consent to their 
wishes, in order that those who could not hear it, may read it and derive as mucli 
pleasure and benefit from its perusal, as your audience did from its deliver3-. 

Wishing- you a long career of usefulness and happiness in our country's service, 
we are AVith great respect, 

Your obedient servants, 

S. W. AVERETT. 
S. BACKUS, Coftimittee. 

E. A. WALKER, 
To Surgeon N1NIA.N Finknkv, Li. S. Xavy. 



U. S. Naval Hospital, 

Portsmouth, Va., Dec. 16th, 1858. 
Gentlemen : — Agreeably to 3'our request, I respectfully transmit for publication, 
the Lecture on the Life and Character of Admiral Collingwood. For this compli- 
ment I am indebted to your too partial kindness. 
Very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 

NINIAN PINKNEY. 

M«SSrS. S. W. AVERETT, 

E. A. Walker, 
S. Backus. 



LEOTTJIIE. 



Gentlemen of the 

' ' Lawrence Literari/ Society : ' ' 

The life of Admiral Collingwood, is the theme I have 
chosen for the 'lecture this Evening. It is eminently sugges- 
tive, rich in incident and sublinre in morals. Born in the 
most eventful era of the world's history, the contemporary 
and warm bosom friend of Nelson^ the proudest name known- 
to the Naval history of the world, unless we except his «wn, 
which we hope to he able to prove, all things considered, was 
second to none; he filled up the measure of his country's 
glory, and proved himself more than equal to the exciting 
and thrilling exigencies of the times. 

He was born on the 26th of September^ 1750. At the ttsnder 
age of eleven, he entered the Britiih Navy, under the care of 
Admirals Brathwaite and Eoddam, officers who felt the mag- 
nitude and responsibiUty of their charge, and fondly cherished 
the boyhood, whose . manhood was destined to illustrate so 
gloriously England's heroism on the seas. It is somewhat 
remarkable, my countrymen, that when the thunders of our 
gallant little army, undisciplined in war, poorly clad and but 
illy equipped, were making their first echoes on the bloody 
plains of Lexington, and when Bunker Hill shook beneath 
the tread of freemen, who spurned the despot's chain, Col- 
LiNGWOOD was raised to the rank of Lieutenant, within sight 
of the curling smoke and sound of the muttering cannon. 



It is with interest we note the fact, that England's noble 
hero was with Admiral Graves, at Boston in 1T94, and that 
on the day the battle of Bunker Hill was fought, he took the 
first step in that line of promotion, which he ever after so 
rapidly and steadily pursued. 

In 17i^3, he was api)ointed Captain of the Prince, the flag 
ship of Rear-Admiral Bovvyer, with whom he served in the 
Barfleur, until he, the Admiral, was wounded in the memo- 
rable engagement of the first of June, 1794. Itwas^his good 
fortune to bear a part, and a distinguished part, too, in that 
engagement. And although from a strange oversight on the 
part of Lord Howe, which bore on its front the impress of 
wilful and deliberate design, to notice the admirable conduct 
of CoLLiNQWOOD, he did not receive the medal that was his 
due. Yet he received that generous and noble burst of ap- 
plause from his associates in arms, which is of far higher 
worth than golden medal or laurel wreath. Bowyer stood 
by him in that trying hour of capricious distributiim of re- 
wards, and left on the entablature of history his solemn decla- 
ration, that "a more brave, capable, or a better officer than 
CoLLiNowooD was not known to him.'" He told Lord Chat- 
ham that if ever he had to look out for a first Captain to a 
Commander-in-chief, he pledged himself that he would not 
find a better than Collingwood. Captain Packenham, of the 
Invincible, ^?i\<i "if Collingwoou has not deserved a medal 
neither have I; fjr we were together the whole day." Col- 
lingwood says, '''observing the ship opposed to us in the 
enemy's line to be much crippled in her masts and rigging, 
and the Invincible having been severely engaged, we made 
the signal to change places with her, that she might take the 
crippled 8hip_, and we might have a fresh one. The Invinci- 
ble stuck 80 close to us in going down, and during the whole 
action, as if she had been lashed to us, sometimes having her 
jib'boom over our taff'rail. ' ' This explains what is stated by 
Captain Packenham, of the Invincible, and reflects credit 
upon that officer for his honest and manly declaration in 
liehalf of Collingwood. In this engagement the signal wa*< 



J 



•T 

made for each ship to engage lier opponent, and bring hef to 
close action ; and then, as Collinowood says, ''down they went 
under a crowd of canvass, and in a manner that would have 
animated the coldest heart and struck terror into the most 
intrepid. The ship we were to engage was two ahead of the 
French Admiral, so that we had to go through his fire and 
that of two ships next him, and received all their broadsides 
two or three times before we fired a gun. It was then near ten 
o'clock." *'I observed," said Collingwood, to the Admiral, 
''that about that time our wives were going to church, but that 
I thought the peal we should ring about the Frenchman's 
ears, would outdo their parish bells. We got very near 
indeed, and then began such a fire as would have done you 
good to have heard. In ten minutes the Admiral, (Bowyer,) 
was wounded ; and I caught him in my arms before he fell, 
the first Lieutenant was slightly wounded by the same shot, 
and I thought I was in a fair way of being left on deck by 
myself; but the Lieutenant got his head dressed and came 
up again. Soon after they called from the forecastle that the 
Frenchman was sinking ; at which the men started up and 
gave three cheers. I saw the French ship dismasted, and on 
her broadside, but in an instant she was clouded with smoke, 
and I do not know whether she sunk or not." 

Now whatever was the motiveof Lord Howe's silence, he wott 
no laurel in this depreciation of his companion in arms, and 
must continue to sufier in the elevated heroism of Nelson and 
Collingwood, which loathed jealousy as beneath the dignity 
of an English sailor. The reward due to Collingwoo©, wa« 
only delayed three short years ; for it came at last, and the 
imputation of ingratitude was wiped from the proud escutchedto 
of England. 

On the 14th day of February, 1797, (St. Valentine's day,) 
he contributed largely to the glory of the British navy, in 
the memorable battle oflf Cape St. Vincent. It is full as won- 
derful to witness the rare modesty with which he so graphi- 
cally describes the exploits of that day, as it is to re-call to 
mind the splendor of the part ho himself enacted. It waa in 



many respects a most signal achievement. "Wc were cruis- 
ing" says CoLLiNGwooD, ''off Cape St. Vincent, with fifteen sail 
of the line, when the Admiral first received information that 
the Spanish fleet, of twenty-dght sail of the line_, were coming 
down the Mediterranean, and a day or two after that twenty- 
seven sail were in our neighborhood, one being left at Grib- 
ralter with ten or twelve frigates, making in all thirty-eight 
or forty sail. We were fifteen and four frigates. Sir John 
Jarvis, (Commander-in-chief,) determined to attack them. 
On the night of the 13th, the leather being fine but, thick 
and hazy, we heard their' signal guns, which announced 
their vicinity, and soon after daylight we were a compact 
little body." 

The odds against which British valor fought that day, 
were fearful. Fifteen sail of the line and four frigates were 
all the force the English Admiral could marshal. There was 
no hesitation, no timid counselling, no careful computation 
of relative strength. It was to see them and then be at them, 
that nerved the hearts of British Admirals in that day, when 
the British Lion waved over the ocean's of the world. ''We 
■flew at them" says Collingwood, "like a "hawk at his prey, 
passed through them, separated them , into two parts and then 
tacked upon their largest division. The CiiUoden, and Cap- 
tain Commodore Nelson's ship, were the first that brought 
them to close action. I by chance became the Admiral's 
leader, (for the circumstances were such as would admit of 
no regular order,) and had the good fortune to get very early 
into action." The first ship Collingwood encountered, was 
the San Salvador del Mundo, 112 guns. Soon her colors 
came down and her fire ceased. Not waiting to secure the 
prize, he pushed on and came up so close alongside the San 
Ysidro, (74,) that a man might have jumped from one ship 
to the other. In ten minutes her colors ' were hauled down. 
GiVmg the San NicJiolas (80,) and the San Josef (112,) a 
touch of the same old tune, and causing their broad ribs to 
quake beneath the thunder of his fire, he passed on to the 
Santissima Trihidada Cordovas ship of 132 guns, and four 



complete decks. Such a ship as he tells us he had never seen 
hefore. Crippled as he was by the desperate fighting he had 
just passed through, he did not hesitate what to do. For one 
whole hour he kept up the contest. To use his own words "he 
trimmed her well, until she was a complete wreck." Take 
it altogether, this was the most brilliant victory at that time 
on record. The conflict with an enemy nearly double, who 
were themselves no strangers to hard fighting, as their shat- 
tered fleet fully showed, when the pean of triumph was being 
wafted on the breeze. It is beautiful to contemplate the bear- 
ing of Nelson and GoLLmGWOOD toward each other, in this the 
proudest moment of their lives, when they were panting in a 
noble spirit of emulation for still higher distinction in devo- 
tion to their country's glory. The chaplet they wove around 
their brows, in the letters that passed between them on the 
loth, the day after the battle, in which the strife seemed to 
be which should excel the other in high toned, generous ad- 
miration, will be found to be full as enduring as the brightest 
chaplet ever woven and worn by concjueror. It is wonder- 
ful to contemplate a friendship so disinterestedly noble. No 
two men were ever more brilliantly connected in so grand a 
transaction. The Spaniards always take their patron saint 
to sea with them, says Collingwood, and we may add that 
Nelson and himself, to borrow still further from his classic 
pen, gave Saint Ysidro a berth in their cabin. No other 
country has presented so sublime a picture of loyalty to friend- 
ship) — no other heroes, so sublime a victory over self. And 
here again we are compelled to notice with regret the seem- 
ing slowness on the part of Lord St. Vincent, to do full and 
ample justice to our hero. Nelson and Collingwood passed 
mutual compliments to each other's valor and skillful conduct, 
which doubless operated as a stimulus to the sluggish Admi- 
ral in command. For in a private letter to the chief of the 
Admiralty, (Lord Spencer,) he makes mention of Nelson and 
Collingwood with one or two others, assigning as his reason 
for not having done so in his Public Despatches, *^'because" he 
says, "I am confident that had those who were least in action 
been in the situation of the favorite few, their behavior would 
not have been less meritorious." In our narrative of iloM 
"battle, the part that Collingwodd enacted stands out with 
S 



10 

wonderful brillianc}'", and ono is lost in the feelings of admira- 
tion excited, and the only surprise is that the chief could have 
supposed that especial mention was not imperatively required. 
For none could have done what Collingwood and Nelson 
did, and but for them the day would not have closed so glo- 
riously to England's arms. 

Collingwood seems to have dreaded inactivity. His desire 
was "to keep his place in the front of the battle." A place 
which none knew better how to fill up — a place, too, which 
both Nelson and his country seemed to be equally ambitious 
to assign him. 

As early as 1803, he saw through the designs that were 
floating through the brain of Napoleon— his invasion of Eng- 
land. For in his letter to his wife he gives expression to his 
fears. His letter to Nelson, dated July 21st, 1805, is almost 
a transcript of Napleon's despatch to his Minister of Marine, 
so profoundly had he penetrated the scheme of the Emperor^ 
Even Nelson was to a certain extent decoyed by the brilliant 
stratagem of Buonaparte. This clear foresight of Colling- 
wood, and deep })enetration into the favorite scheme of Napo- 
leon is wonderful. For whatever might have been the nature 
of his designs in the speculations of men at that day and sub- 
sequently, we have now the lights of history to guide us, and 
those lights develop a most extraordina-r}' combination, each 
link of which was laid in the most masterly spirit of that first 
of conquerors and rarest of diplomatists. We have his own 
declaration of his purpose to attempt the invasion of the soil 
of England. Confirmation of it is to be found in his publish- 
ed correspondence with M. Dacres, Minister of Marine, by 
Count Dumas. Marshal Ney in his memoirs, tells us that 
400 gun-boats covered the coast, that these were designed as 
a ruse de guerre. The fleets were to be assembled, draw 
after them to the West Indies the British squadron, and 
return rapidly on their steps, and present themselves in the 
Channel before the English were aware they had crossed the 
line. !So perfectlyhad the Marshal adjusted the plan of pro- 
ceeding, that in ten minutes and a half, infantry, cavalry, 
artillery, consisting of 25;,000 out 150,000 men were em- 
barked, and in thirteen minutes from the time when the sol- 
diers were on board, they were arranged in battle array on 



n 

the shore. Allison says, *'when we recollect that Lord 
Nelson fell into the snare, and actually pursued the combined 
fleets to the West Indies; that in pursuance of Napoleon's de- 
sign, Yilleneuve reached Fenol, and that it was in consequence 
only of his unsuccessful action with Sir Robert Calder, that he 
was induced to fall back to Cadiz, and thereby cause the whole 
plan to mis-carry; it is evident that the fate of Britain then 
hung upon a thread. ' ' Villeneuve was unequal to his mission. 
His heart failed him and Napoleon found that his dependence 
was upon a broken reed. Allison in his miscellaneous essays 
on Marshal Ney, commits two very great blunders, which the 
truth of history requires us to correct. He affirmsthat the G-ov- 
ernment were compelled to bring Admiral Cialder to a courtmar- 
tial; and that he was dismissed the service. The truth of the 
matter is, Calder himself demanded an investigation, and upon 
the finding of the court was severely reprimanded. More was 
expected of him than he accomplished. Censure, not reward 
was meted out to him, but not the censure of dismissal from 
the service. It cannot be doubted that the judgment of the 
world has reversed the decision of that court martial, and that 
Sir Robert Calder, in daring to offer battle off Cape Finisterre, 
on the 22nd of July, 1805, to a force far superior to his own 
in numbers, and compelling them to seek safety in port, fully 
sustained the reputation or his country, and rendered her the 
most important and timely service. Nelson and Colling- 
WOOD both expressed their sympathy for their ill-used comrade, 
and with a superiority to the petty jealousy that sometimes 
overclouds superior minds, spurned an honor that was ten- 
dered them at the expense of another. Calder' s noble heart, 
well nigh crushed by the furious outcry, that branded his 
name with reproach, sunk within him. But the world now 
sees and feels that the bold encounter of a fleet of twenty- 
seven ships, by a force of fifteen, which rescued England from 
the fangs of the destroyer, is not a fit subject of reproach ; they 
have therefore embalmed his memory, and awarded to him a 
laurel wreath. It must be borne in mind that but for his 
timely intervention, Napoleon with 150^000 thoroughly dis- 
ciplined troops, with facilities for embarkation in one hour 
and upwards, covered by a fleet of 60 ships of the line, would 



12 

have made his descent upon the coast of Britain, prepared to 
strike a fatal blow, with the concentrated vigor that "would 
have struck terror to the heart of the hravest. 

On the 21st of October, 1805, the last great and decisive 
battle of Trafalgar was fought^ which to use the strong lan- 
guage of Nej, ''postponed the conquest of England to another 
age," and crushed iSTapoleon's hopes on the seas. 

Of this the greatest of naval victories, it is not necessary 
to speak in detail. It is familiar to us all — an heir loom of 
glory that has been handed down to all after ages. Upon its 
fate hung the destinies of the world. Nelson and Colling- 
wooD, were again the bright stars that drew all eyes upon 
them in wondering gaze. Collingwood, in one of those 
beautiful requiems he sung so plaintively over the shade of 
his departed friend, tells us that "in this affair nothing was 
done without his counsel ; we made our line of battle together, 
and concerted the mode of attack, which was put in execution 
in the most admirable style." 

With a magnanimity worthy of all praise, Nelson gave to 
CoLLiNGWOOD the lead of the lee column of thirteen ships, 
while he himself on board of the Victory, took the lead of the 
weather column of fourteen ships. The deportment of both 
was marked throughout with rare coolness and deliberation. 
There was. a striking resemblance in their personal bearing, 
as there was in their mental and professional endowments. 
Carefully dressed for the occasion, they sought to inspire the 
crew with the same cool deliberation. Nelson's motto was 
' ' England expects every man to do his duty . ' ' Collingwood's 
to his own particular ship, was " gentlemen let us do some- 
thing to-day which the world may talk of hereafter. ' ' Nelson 
broke out in a burst of admiration, which it thrills one to read 
now, "see how that noble fellow Collingwood carries his ship 
into action!" and the very breeze that wafted these words of 
commendation to the ears of British sailors, brought back the 
not less noble words of Collingwood, "what would Nelson 
give to be here?" Collingwood took the lead. Passing the 
Santa Anna,- the Royal Sovereign gave her a broad side and a 
half into her stern, tearing it down and wounding and killing 
400 men and dismantling 14 guns. For fifteen or twenty 
minutes the Boyal Sovereign presented the sublime spectacle of 



13 

sustaining single-handed the fight, and filling the conflicting 
fleets with admiration of her princely courage and destructive 
power. She was exposed to the incessant fire of the Fougeux 
(74,) Indomptahle (80,) Sun Justo (74,) and yS'aw Leandro 
(64.) Thus she was exposed to the fire of as great a number 
of ships as could fire at a single ship without injury to each 
other. The Santa Anna struck at half past two, P. M. 

Nelson received his death wound at half past one o'clock, 
and was carried below. He desired an interview with Hardy, 
and in those earnest words "will no one bring Hardy to me?" 
manifested his impatience to see him. In his life it is record- 
ed "that many messages were sent to Captain Hardy, by the 
Surgeon, requesting his attendance on his Lordship ; the 
captain's aid-de-camp, Mr. Bulkeley, came below, and stated 
that circumstances respecting the fleet required Captain 
Hardy's presence on deck, but that he would avail himself 
of the first favorable moment to visit his Lordship. An hour 
and ten minutes elapsed before Captain Hardy's first inter- 
view with Nelson." Now it must be borne in mind that 
one hour and ten minutes passed, before Nelson's order was 
obeyed. The reason ofiicially assigned was that circumstan- 
ces respecting, not the particular ship, on the quarter deck of 
which Hardy was manfully fighting for his country's glory, 
but the fleet required it. What had Hardy to do with the 
fleet? He was not second in command. Nelson was below, 
unable to observe what was going on. Nelson was not even 
in close and constant converse with Hardy. For one hour 
and ten minutes he was denied the privilege of even a con- 
ference. The command of the fleet was properly in charge 
of somebody. The admiral was disabled and could not exer- 
cise it, and did not, for Hardy saw nothing of Nelson, and 
received no orders from him, but the summons which he did 
not obey. Hardy was not second in command and could not 
therefore concern himself with the fleet, as that was in charge 
of CoLLiNGwooD, the moment the chief was incapacitated for 
the duty. That first interview ended, in which no order was 
issued; Hardy went on deck, and after fifty minutes, just on 
the eve of again going into the presence of his Lordship, 
he sends Lieutenant Hills to acquaint Admiral Collingwood 
of Nelson's wound. Collingwood himself says, in his cones- 



14 

pondence, 'Hhat an officer was sent to him to inform him of 
the fact, and before the action was over Captain Hardy brought 
the melancholy news of Nelson's death," As soon as the 
tidings of Nelson's wound reached him, Collingwood called 
the Euryalus to make the necessary signals. Nelson fought 
like a hero. He covered his name with glory. All that 
human valor and skill could do, he did, until the fatal shot 
laid him low on the quarter deck of the Vi.tory. Even when 
borne below, and writhing in the agonies of death, his 
thoughts were only of his country. But when Nelson fell his 
mantle rested on worthy shoulders. Collingwood's name 
was a tower of strength in all that heaving fleet. He was 
second in command by his country's verdict. He had led the 
one grand division, and fought it at his own discretion. He 
had struck, terror and consternation into the heart of the 
heroic foe, and turned their hopes of victory into the bitter- 
ness of anticipated defeat. Standing on the deck of the Royal 
Sovej^eign, like the genius of war, he frowned defiance 
upon the pride of the Franco-Spanish fleet, and helped to 
pluck the standard of England from their fatal grasp. The 
battle still raged furiously, and his was the guiding genius 
of the conflict. Taking as we do the view of impartial his- 
tory, we hold that during that one hour and ten minutes, 
Hardy's conduct was inexplicable and unjustifiable. For he 
disobeyed the command of Nelson, to visit him in the cock- 
pit, assigning as the reason " circumstances respecting the 
Jleet," which did not appertain to him as Captain of the Vic- 
tory, when virtually and in fact separated from his chief. 
And what makes the subject still clearer. Hardy himself, 
before the second interview, sends the messenger to Colling- 
wooD, and shows his own deep impressions breathed into 
Nelson's dying ear, "I suppose that Admiral Collingwood, 
will now take upon himself the direction of affairs. ' ' A most 
natural and proper supposition, for the messenger was already 
despatched. Nelson was incapacitated, and Hardy knew it, 
and the proprieties and laws of the service, required that it 
should be made known to the second in command. And yet 
it is obvious that Nelson was not a whit more incapacitated 
in the second, then in the first interview. The sending the 
messenger when he did, and the admitted supposition, that 



16 

"■'woiy the command 2i;ozi?(i (?e^'oZye o?i Collingwood," proves 
that the messenger should have been at once despatched. 
One thing is incontrovertible, there was no one actually in 
command of the fleet from the time Nelson was carried 
below, until Collingwood sent forth his signals from the 
Eurijalus. For Collingwood was kept in ignorance of Nelson' s 
condition. Hardy was acting without orders and in actual 
disobedience of them. It is not my purpose to say aught 
needlessly to the disparagement of that sturdy old veteran, in 
adverting to this anomalous fact, and the acknowledged laws 
of the service. It is to vindicate the truth of history. The 
moment the incapacity to rule occurs, that moment must the 
command cease. When Nelson left the deck and was borne 
below, tlie responsibility of the second in command began. 
The keeping of CoLLixawooD in ignorance of the fact, that for 
one hour and upwards Nelson's rule was virtually suspended, 
wa,s a wrong to the British arms, and if made a precedent 
would result in fearful consequences. Concede the principle, 
and the most anomalous and disastrous results must follow. 
To cheer the dying heart of his beloved chief, Hardy tells him 
the victory was won. Nelson caught at the thrilling news ; 
and with an energy, the last struggle of expiring nature for 
command, at once natural and touching, he says in response 
to the assertion, "that Collingwood would now take upon 
himself the direction of affairs," "not while I live, I hope 
Hardy. Do you anchor, for if I live I'll anchor. ' ' The com- 
mand to anchor Avas unquestionably the result of the tidings 
that the victory was won. It was to give expression to the 
fact that the work was finished. True the battle raged on 
and Collingwood was the master spirit of the light. His 
signals were afloat on the breeze. Had Nelson's order been 
obeyed, given as it was and must have been, under the disad- 
vantages of not knowing the precise condition of the fleet, in 
the judgment of some of the ripest seamen of that day, the 
fleet instead of being preserved as it was, would have perished 
on the shoals of Trafalgar. Gollingwood's conduct when the 
battle ceased, was not less commendable than his couraj^e and 
skill v,dnle the tide of war roiled on. But for his judgrhent 
and skill, for a better practical seamen never walked the deck 
of a man-of-war, but few ships if any would have been left 



16 

to tell tlie tale of the splendor of England's valor on that day 
of mighty issues. He has himself declared that he would 
sooner fight another battle, than pass through the horrors of 
such a week. Collingwood gloried in the lead of such a man 
as Nelson, and Nelson in so consummate a supporter as 

COLLINGWOOD. 

I do not place them in antagonism to each other. They 
were above all petty jealousies through the whole of their 
eventful lives, and it is not in me to create a rivalship over 
their honored graves, which they sublimely repudiated when 
alive. The error of Hardy, for error I am compelled to pro- 
nounce it, was all his own ; and that too may be permitted, 
now that it is rectified, to pass under the effulgence of Tra- 
falgar, which gave Nelson his winding sheet, and Colling- 
wooD the epitaph of '^having in the solemn judgment of his 
country completed the most, glorious and decisive victory 
which is recorded on the naval annals of the world." If any- 
thing touches the chords of feeling in the human heart more 
powerfully than another, in all this grand transaction, it is 
the womanly tenderness with which Collingwood deplores the 
loss of Nelson, and the glowing tribute he pays to his incom- 
parable worth. ''Oh! had Nelson lived, how complete had 
been my happiness ! how perfect my joy ! ' ' The thunders of ap- 
plause which greeted his ear, were lost in the stillness of Nel- 
son's grave. The pleasure of victory was abated, because the 
loving glance of his comrade's eye was not there to greet him. 
"Oh! had Nelson lived, how complete had been my happi- 
ness ! how perfect my joy ! " Golden letters these, but seldom 
found inscribed on the entablature of a frail human heart at 
such a moment. Too free from the taint of selfishness for 
inscription often on so corrupt a mould. 

Without disparagement to the hero of the Nile we may be 
allowed injustice to the hero of our theme, to press upon your 
notice, the fact that Collingwood, by his consummate blockad- 
ing of the squadron in Cadiz, where no provision was made for 
the supply of the 'fleets and his cutting off of the supplies that 
were subsequently forwarded, forced the Franco-Spanish fleet 
to put to sea, and thus brought on the battle of Trafalgar. 
By his inimitable onslaught in the very beginning of the en- 
gagement, he struck dismay into the opposing foe, and wrung 



17 

even from Admiral Villenenve, the sad confession that all 
was lost. By his inimitable concUict, when A-ictory perched 
on the Lion standard of England, he wrnng from the King 
the warmest approval, and the strongest testimonial of con- 
Bummate seamanship. So that all things considered, no 
Becond place can he properly assigned him. 

•We have traced along the brilliant and eventful life of 
Admiral Collingwooi), from the first naval engagement in 
which he gave promise of what he was destined to become, to 
the battle of Trafalgar, when he put the topmost stone "upon 
the vast pyramid of his fame. ' ' His subsequent career was 
marked by his skill in diplomacy, in which he won, by the 
ready power of his pen, a reputation only second to the tro- 
phies of his sword. It was conceeded by his compeers, that 
for simplicity, beauty, purity, elegance, and nerve of style, he 
was not excelled as a writer by any diplomat of his day. In 
this he stood head and shoulders above any naval hero of 
whom we have a record. And the secret of his success is 
worthy of imitation by you gentlemen, who are now in 
training for the profession which he made so honorable in 
the eyes of the world. He was a diligent student. His 
leisure moments were apx^lied to the cultivation of his mind. 
History and Geography were examined with philosophic pre- 
cision. The best writers of the past and present were his boon 
companions. When off duty^ he sought his recreation in 
study — and when on ship-board, he did not relax his efforts 
at self-culture. The prominent traits of his character, were 
devotion to duty and attention to the minutiae of professional 
obligations. Everything yielded to the former, and nothing 
escaped the observation of the latter. No man was more blessed 
in the endearments of the homestead. Happily married, with 
two daughters that grew up as polished stones in the temple 
of that consecrated spot, his home, he was much to be envied. 
With a heart susceptible to all that was tender and gentle 
and lovely, in that charmed sphere of the affections, he was 
above all other men fitted to diffuse the genial sunshine of quiet 
happiness on all around him. His correspondence exhibits a 
rare cluster of the sweet and gentle gaces, that make home 
the fairest spot in creation. And yet he cheerfully resigned 
all in devotion to duty to his country's flag. For months 
3 



18 

never toucliing land — forty odd years of the fifty spent in the 
navy constantly occupiedwith the momentous business entrust- 
ed to his care J he stood at his post bidding adieu to home wife and 
and children. There is the highest moral sublimity in this 
unmurmuring devotion, in one whose bosom yearned for the 
pleasures he was denied_, without parallel, that I remember 
anywhere among men. And then nothing escaped his notice. 
Attention to the most seemingly insignificant things, his pre- 
sence every where, this it was which gave the finishing touch 
to the perfection of his character. His ship was consef[uently 
at all times in the best possible order. Economy in his ad- 
ministration passed as a sort of proverb throughout the fleet ; 
and yet his economy never degenerated into meanness. Noth- 
ing was wasted And if anything more beautifully set forth 
his admirable conduct as a naval officer, than another, it was 
his solicitude for the sick sailor, his nursing care and close 
personal inspection of his comforts. He identified himself with 
his crew. Their health and happiness were ever near his heart. 
Debasing punishments were as much as possible removed from 
the disciplne of his ships ; and it is somewhat remarkable that 
both he and Nelson at that early day instituted for the lash 
other more befitting instruments of rule. His appeal was to 
the pride of the British sailor ; and rewards judiciously dis- 
tributed and penances sternly administered, where the case re- 
quired it, did more to secure the loyal obedience of the crew, 
than aught else beside. Collingwood, was therefore, well 
nigh idolized by the private seamen. He had their love and 
confidence, and when the storm of battle raged most furiously, 
they fought not more in devotion to their country's flag, than 
in love for their venerated leader. Nor was his solicitude 
wholly expended upon the private seamen. He felt that the 
power of the British navy, and the honor of her flag, rested 
upon the young men, who were in training for the difficult 
and delicate post of command. A friend of the young he was. 
His earnest counsel breathes in every syllable a most jealous 
concern for their future welfare and their professional useful- 
ness. "Let it be your ambition " says this illustrious Admi- 
ral, *'to be foremost in all duty. Do not be a nice observer 
of turns, but forever show yourself ready for every duty." 
Here, gentlemen, we have the key note to full and complete 



success. No discriminatiou can be exercised wken duty calls 
to service. All duty demands attention, and where all duty 
is at stake, nothing can be safety or with honor overlooked. 
Young men are peculiarly liable to temptation on this point, 
and particularly in the junior grades of the profession. They 
are prone to discriminate between the comparative magnitude 
of the work assigned them. Whereas the only question that 
should be asked, is, does duty call? and the only desire, that 
should be for a moment cherished, is, its instant and thorough 
performance. CoLLiNfiwooD goes on to add: "Were a man 
as wise as Solomon, and as brave as Achilles, he would still be 
unworthy of trust if he addicted himself to grog. He maybe 
a drudge, but a respectable officer he can never be." Truer 
words never fell from human lips. Let them be the polar 
star of the young men of the profession. Still further he 
adds: " Let your companions be such as yourself, or supe- 
rior, for the worth of a man will always be ruled by that of 
his company." Here, again my countrymen, we have the 
power of association, the most masterly moulding power in 
the universe. "Read," he says, "let met charge you to read. 
Study books that treat of your profession and history. Wis- 
dom does not come by instinct, but will be found Avhen dili- 
gently sought for : seek her, she will be a friend that will 
never fail you. Nature has sown in man the seeds of 
knowledge; but they must be cultivated to produce fruit." 
If the young men of our profession are careful to observe this 
wise counselling, and reduce to practice these noble maxims, 
(and it is to be confidently hoped they will, nurtured as they 
now are by the Government whose flag waves over them,) 
the navy will command the respect and admiration of the 
world. Our flag will never droop, upheld by their stalwart 
arms, our country's confidence will not be misplaced or for- 
feited in their keeping. Loyalty, and intelligent apprecia- 
tion of the responsibilities of command, will be our sheet 
anchor ; a home in the hearts of our countrymen will be our 
anchorage. 

Thus lived the man who, all things considered, was second 
to none of the gallant men "whose home was on the moun- 
tain wave." I shall not dwell upon the touching beauty of 
his death. To Captain Thomas, he said "lam dying; and 



20 

I am sure it must be consolatory to you, and all who love me, 
to see how comfortably I am coming to my end." Devout- 
ly pious, his end was as peaceful as the setting sun, with 
not a cloud to obscure its declining glory. Just in all his 
dealings ; resolute of will to meet every call of duty ; full of 
the tenderness of real sympathy — above the reach of envy; 
as loyal to those above him in rank, as he was considerate to 
those below him, he was every inch a hero. Always in the 
thickest of the light, subordinate in command until the day 
that Nelson fell, but never second in brilliant achievement 
and bold daring ; he was without a wound, almost miracu- 
ously preserved. Passing from the blood stained decks to the 
heated arena of political strife, he maintained liis supremacy, 
and stood the acknowleged head of diplomats, the best writer 
and calmest statesman known to tlie service abroad. His re- 
mains now repose in St. Paul's Cathedral, by the side of 
Nelson, the spot that Nelson chose, dear to the memory of 
heroes, and embalmed in the tears of all succeeding ages. 
His country's flig the winding sheet that wraps him round! 
his native soil his resting place ! May he rest in peace! His 
life and character, the pride and boast of all the navies of the 
world, may they become the study of the young men of the 
profession! 

We have stated that it was a singular coincidence, that 
Collingwood's eye met the glare of the first cannon that woke 
its echoes on the heights of Boston, in the proud era of our revo- 
lutionary struggle, a not less singular coincidence it was, that 
two years or more after his sun had set in glory, and the 
world was gazing in rapt astonishment, as the last rays of the 
wondrous orb were fast fading from the view, our little navy 
should have met in unequal contest the proudest navy in the 
world, fresh from Trafalgar, and successfully disputed the 
supremacy of the seas. Dacres, the follower of Lord St. Vin- 
cent, struck to Hull, and one after another bowed before this 
upstart stripling, and the fable of the '"flying Dutchman" 
ceased to be the marvel of the seas. 

My countrymen, the navy of 1812, deserves well of the 
country. Its laiirels are the brightest that are woven in her 
crown of glory. But has the navy received the patronage, 
and nursing care, that well befit so august an arm of the 



21 

national defence. Much lias been clone for it, ^^'^l^ich deserves 
especial commendation. The establishment in the time hon- 
ored capital of old Maryland, a spot well calculated for the 
training of heroes and statesmen. I repeat, the establishment 
of an Academy, like that at West Point, where our young 
men can learn all that concerns their noble profession, and 
go forth thoroughly equipped for service, is of itself alone a 
gift worthy of all praise. I have seen in the Mediterranean, 
where it was my privilege last to cruise, the most unequivocal 
proof of the Avisdom of that establishment. Wisely governed 
and most ably and efficiently conducted in every department, 
whether literary, scientific or strictly professional, it deserves 
to be the pride of the country, and the pet child of Grovern- 
ment. But still the navy is not what the navy should be. 
It is neither equal to the national defence, nor the commer- 
cial necessities of the land. Somehow or other, politicians 
have a sort of jealousy of the navy, which militates stronglj 
against any policy at all proportionate to the magnitude of 
its sphere. Let any man cast his eye over the extended area 
of our empire — compute the tonnage of our commerce, and 
then tell me if our present navy is competent to guard and 
protect it. It is below the dignity of such a G-overnment t& 
be dependent for the protection of her commerce, on anj 
other power on earth; and yet who does not know, that the 
courtesy of other nations, gracefully rendered though it be, 
often secures our commerce from the aggression which cer- 
tainly ought to be always rendered from the port-holes of our 
own ships of war. Make the the navy what it should be, and 
you have more than a Gibralter security against foreign ag- 
gression and insult. Make it what it should be, and no power 
Avill dare dishonor our flag. It becomes a nation like ours, to 
be ready for war, while it studiously counsels the things that 
make for peace. Moreover it is due to the navy itself. Should 
the country be suddenlj'- plunged into the horrors of war ; 
desperately as your navy would struggle for victory, her hero- 
ism could avail nothing against the overpowering force arrayed 
against her ; and with no colors struck, who need be told 
that nothing would remain but a wreck to tell to after ages 
what American seamen can do for a country, which consigned 
them an inferiority of numbers, that left no alternative but ft 



22 

grave beneath the billows or defeat. Every thing conspires 
to render a strong navy the wisest policy for a country like 
ours. The immense area of our Territory — the vast wealth 
and extent of our commerce — the well nigh settled fact that, 
with such a navy, the only war that can be waged against us, 
will be fought upon tlie seas — all conspire to urge upon Con- 
gress the policy I advocate. True, the nation might recover, 
after years of toil and privation and loss, from a Avar in her pre- 
sent naval weakness, but what wise statesman, will be Avilling 
to inflict upon his countrymen, even the hazards of such a 
privation and loss? Why, by present niggardly economy, 
subject her to so fearful future risk ? The science of war has 
progressed and is still progressing — and woe betide the power 
that shall dare depend on raw recruits and boastful ignorance. 
Our duty is linked Avith the steady progress of skill and 
enterprise. Peace is the element of our most real life as a 
nation. Do Avhat you can to guard it. Show yourselves ready 
to defend it — and no poAver on earth Avill touch you. Res- 
pecting the rights of others, you Avill be respected in your OAvn. 
There is I have intimated, an unfortunate jealousy of the 
navy that has crept into the Legislative halls, and influenced 
injuriously the deliberations of our laAvmakers. It exhibits 
itself not only in the size of the navy, but the very grades 
that are to distinguisli it among the other poAvers of the Avorld. 
Admirals are sounds dear to British sailors and landsmen. 
But talk of an Admiral in this noble Republic, and at once 
our taste is offended and our Republican nerves are shocked. 
We can have Lieutenant Generals in our army, and no 
one is disturbed. But Flag Oflicer, (Avhicli is nothing but 
Captain,) is the nearest approach we have made to that of 
Admiral. Why sirs, the A'ery cheeks of our gallant officers 
have been made to tingle on foreign shores, because a rank 
knoAvn to the whole civilized Avorld is denied them ; and our 
Captains in command of squadrons, have ridden at anchor by 
the side of Englisli Admirals, Avho struck to them their colors 
in the last Avar. It is said the rank is nothing. Granted ! 
But if so why deny it to our officers, that they may escape 
the odium of a sort of nondescript on the seas? Establish the 
grade of Admiral Avith the corresponding pay, and at once 
you remove the only disturbing cause that noAV rankles in the 



23 

•bosom, the dispute of rank and the heart hurnings that in- 
evitably follow it. 

England is a land of heroes, and we honor her. She cher- 
ishes as the apple of her eye her navy, and the world respects 
her. She is careful of their reputation when living, and just 
to their memories when dead. Her pension list is the brightest 
scroll she has unrolled, and to her honor be it said no crippled 
sailor is denied the sympathy and support he craves. We 
trust that no cause of war may arise to disturb the happy friend- 
ship that subsists between us. I know the feeling of Eng- 
land toward us. I was myself prejudiced against her^ until 
I touched her soil, sat at the festive board in company with 
her distinguished statesmen, saw her commonalty, walked 
through her manufactories, and looked out upon her splendid 
tillage. Then it was, that I every where met with assurances 
of good feeling and good neighborhood — admiration of our 
wonderful progress and development as a nation, our institu- 
tions of learning, literature, science and art. I trust the 
amity will continue. Whatever be the fate of that wondrous 
cable that has already transmitted one message of mutual 
good feeling, I hope that the cable of mutual interest, mutual 
honor, mutual principles and mutual language, will never 
fail to transmit its intelligible speech through ocean's depths 
to either shore. The navies of England and the United 
States, their real cable of strength, will I trust, henceforth, 
be contented with a peaceful rivalry, in the as yet unexplored 
oceans of science — and serve as the solid links of the chain 
that is to bind the two countries, now and forever. They 
hold out the brightest lights of civilization and Christianity 
to the gaze oi the world. Magna Charta was the grand 
reservoir from which many of our most revered maxims of 
political jurisprudence were drawn. And from the genius of 
her institutions, have many of our well nigh extinct princi- 
ples been quickened into life. Sad would be the day, when 
forgetful of the fact that they seemed to be destined to the 
completion and perfection of each other's glory, they should 
strike a blow at each other's prosperity. May the wisdom 
and moderation, the good sense and just sentiment, of both 
countries unite to avert it. 



k--". 



